What does it take to really change? It doesn’t matter what you want to change. There are some principles that need to be in place for permanent change to take place. First and foremost, it starts with your heart. You’ve got to be willing to sacrifice temporary pleasure to see new habits formed. For the disciple, surrender your heart to Jesus Christ. Stop striving and let the Spirit do His work.
GENESIS 32:28
“He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.”
Name Change
Jacob gets his name changed by the Angel of the Lord, which is pre-incarnate Jesus. He goes from being called a “scoundrel,” which is what Jacob means, to Israel, which means “contend” or one who strives with God. Of course, this is where the nation of Israel got its name, from the father of the twelve tribes. Jacob had the strength to strive with God throughout the whole night, and he had striven with his Uncle Laban for years to marry the woman he loved and get a start for his young family.
Still the Same
Some people might look at Jacob and admire his ability to wrestle with God all night. The problem is that Jacob had character issues. Although his name changed, he was still a scoundrel or “heel-catcher” at heart. The same can go for us. We can change on the outside, like losing some weight or getting a promotion at work and still being the same person. God is interested more in the heart than He is in appearances.
Surrender Your Heart
Don’t get caught up in looking for the blessings of God while ignoring the character issues. Let the Holy Spirit do a work from the inside out. Root out those besetting sin issues that keep tripping you up. Allow the soil of your heart to be tilled so that the seeds of spiritual fruit can be planted and grown. Surrender your heart to the Lord.